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Politicians - Where they stand on Long Island Statehood - We will keep you informed as Long Island Statehood becomes a Reality
 
WHERE OUR POLITICIANS STAND AS OF NOVEMBER 2012
 
 
Lindsay and Sawicki Renew Push for a State of Long Island
Urge new Nassau leadership to join them



HAUPPAUGE, NY – February 1, 2010 – Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer,
William J. Lindsay (D-Holbrook) and Suffolk County Comptroller Joseph Sawicki, Jr.
(R-Southold) – two ardent supporters of the State of Long Island movement – are
renewing their efforts to press for legislation to study the feasibility of Nassau and
Suffolk counties seceding from New York State and hold a Suffolk/Nassau referendum
on the issue to allow voters to decide.

They sent a joint request to newly elected Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano
(R), Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) and
Minority Leader Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) requesting that the Nassau legislature,
like Suffolk, adopt a “Home Rule Message” for pending state legislation calling for the
creation of a task force to study the feasibility of Nassau and Suffolk counties seceding
from New York State to become the State of Long Island.

“We can’t keep this up,” Lindsay said. “We’re losing our jobs, we’re losing our youth,
we’re losing our future. Someone has to stand up to the chaos that is in Albany, someone
has to stand up for Long Islanders. We’re doing just that.”

“A unified voice from both Nassau and Suffolk counties would send a serious message to
Albany that we reject their illegitimate taxes and fees upon Long Islanders,” said Sawicki
who has long promoted the idea of secession as a way to solve Long Island’s fiscal woes. “The
Dowling college study has proven that we send over $3 billion more to Albany than we
get back. That $3 billion can provide enormous tax relief for Long Islanders instead of
being used to bail out the rest of the State.”

Last May, the Suffolk County Legislature approved Presiding Officer Lindsay’s Home
Rule Message supporting this state effort to explore of the creation of a new State of
Long Island. The Nassau County legislature did not sign on to the idea at that time.
Included with the letter was a copy of a report done by Martin Cantor, Director of the Long
Island Economic and Social Policy Institute at Dowling College, which outlines the economic
injustice perpetrated on Long Island by the State of New York and shows that Long Island
contributes $3 billion more in taxes to the state coffers than it gets back in state aid every year,
and that’s nearly $4,000 annually for a family of four.

Said Sawicki, “The creation of this bi-county commission wherein both Counties will
study the issue is the logical next step in forming the 51st state so that Long Island voters
can make an informed decision in a November referendum.”

State legislation (Senate Bill No. S.426-A and Assembly Bill No. A.1189-A) was filed by
New York State Senator Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) and New York State
Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) last year.
 
Kara Hahn
Presiding Officer William J. Lindsay's Office
Suffolk County Legislature
631-853-6356
Cell: 516-639-3788
Fax: 631-853-6377
kara.hahn@suffolkcountyny.gov
http://legis.suffolkcountyny.gov/
 
 

Click Here to View Original Senate Bill
Amended Senate Bill - Most Current
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Establishes a bi-county commission in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk to study the feasibility of establishing the state of Long Island.
Sponsor: LAVALLE / Committee: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Law Section: Nassau County

S1453A-2011 Actions

  • Jan 27, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 1453A
  • Jan 27, 2012: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  • Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  • Jan 7, 2011: REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT

S1453A-2011 Memo

												BILL NUMBER:S1453A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
in relation to establishing a bi-county commission in the counties of
Nassau and Suffolk to study the feasibility of establishing the state of
Long Island

PURPOSE:
Establishes a bi-county commission in the counties of Nassau and
Suffolk to study the feasibility of establishing the state of Long
Island

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
To create a 24 member Nassau/Suffolk bi-county commission chaired by
the respective county executives for the purpose of conducting a
feasibility study on the establishment of a state of Long Island to
be completed on or before July 1, 2013 and submitting the question of
statehood to the Nassau/Suffolk electors in a non binding referendum
at the November 2, 2013 election.

JUSTIFICATION:
The issue of creating the State of Long Island in Nassau and Suffolk
counties has long been a topic of debate. This bill would create a
bi-county commission to study and report to the people who can then
participate in a non binding referendum.

This issue requires full participation of the citizens for Nassau and
Suffolk on whether any process for state hood should be initiated.
This bill will allow for a full discussion of the myriad of issues
involved in such endeavor and allow the citizens of the two counties
to analyze the report and express their opinion on statehood in a non
binding referendum.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2009-10 S.426A.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

S1453A-2011 Text

												S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 S. 1453--A                                            A. 1406--A
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 SENATE - ASSEMBLY
 January 7, 2011
 
 IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered print
 ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Govern
 ment -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance
 with  Senate  Rule  6,  sec.  8 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
 ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once  and  referred
 to  the  Committee  on  Governmental  Operations -- recommitted to the
 Committee on Governmental Operations in accordance with Assembly  Rule
 3,  sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
 amended and recommitted to said committee
 

AN ACT in relation to establishing a bi-county commission in  the  coun
 ties  of  Nassau  and Suffolk to study the feasibility of establishing
 the state of Long Island
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1. Legislative findings: Nassau and Suffolk Counties comprise
 an area of 2,826 square miles, larger than the states  of  Rhode  Island
 and  Delaware.  The  combined  population  of  the two counties is 2.798
 million which is greater than the population of 19 states. For the years
 2002-2004, Long Island paid 8.124 billion dollars  in  state  taxes  yet
 only  5.2  billion  dollars  was  returned  in direct local aid, tuition
 assistance, highway aid, pension payments, lottery  money,  metropolitan
 transportation authority subsidies and Medicaid payments. For many years
 the  question  of forming the state of Long Island has been discussed in
 public and academic forums. The issue should be investigated,  a  report
 prepared and referendum held in Nassau and Suffolk counties so the citi
 zens may be heard.
 

S  2.  There  is  hereby  established  a  Nassau and Suffolk bi-county
 commission to study the feasibility of forming the state of Long  Island
 to  consist of the counties of Nassau and Suffolk. Such commission shall
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD03747-02-2
        S. 1453--A                          2                         A. 1406--A
 be comprised of 24 members, 12 of whom shall reside  in  the  county  of
 Nassau  and 12 of whom shall reside in the county of Suffolk. The county
 executive of each county shall serve on the commission as co-chairs.  Of
 the  remaining 22 members, 5 members from each county shall be appointed
 by the county executive of the county in  which  such  county  executive
 serves;  3  members  from each county shall be appointed by the majority
 leader of the county legislature from the county in which such  majority
 leader  serves, and 3 members from each county shall be appointed by the
 minority leader of the county legislature from the county in which  such
 minority  leader  serves.  Members  of  the  commission shall receive no
 compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their  actual  and
 necessary  expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Members
 of the commission shall  serve  at  the  pleasure  of  their  appointing
 authority.  Vacancies  on  the  commission  shall  be filled in the same
 manner as the original appointment.
 

S 3. The study  authorized  by  section  two  of  this  act  shall  be
 completed and submitted to the Nassau county legislature and the Suffolk
 county legislature on or before July 1, 2013.
 

S  4.  At the general election to be held November 2, 2013, the county
 of Nassau and the county of Suffolk shall be submitted to the voters  of
 such  counties, a referendum concerning whether or not the state of Long
 Island shall be formed. Such referendum shall be deemed approved  if  it
 is  approved  by  a  majority of the voters voting on such referendum in
 each county, provided however that the approval of such referendum shall
 not be binding upon the county of Nassau or the county of Suffolk.
 

S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 

 
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TENNESSEE PLAN WHEN CONFRONTED WITH OPPOSITION FROM THE COWARDS AND PROGRESSIVES
 
Tennessee
Admitted: June 1, 1796
Population: 77,262
Prior time as territory: 6 years
Journey to statehood: Took place without congressionally approved "enabling act," and in so doing blazed a trail for six future states that would similarly barge into the Union without first being invited. Tennessee's first two "senators" were denied entry to Congress, but the territory later lobbied successfully for admission. Its first officially recognized congressman, Andrew Jackson, was elected in August 1796.
 
 
 
     
     
     
     
 
 

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